Four police vans seal off route to PM’s residence as Westminster brought to standstill – civil servants trapped inside buildings unable to leave
BREAKING: Downing Street was thrown into lockdown chaos this afternoon as staff were urgently evacuated to “secure rooms” while police investigated an abandoned vehicle near the Prime Minister’s official residence.
A massive security operation saw four police vans blocking the route to Sir Keir Starmer’s home as Westminster was brought to a dramatic standstill, with civil servants trapped inside government buildings and forbidden from leaving.
The Metropolitan Police erected a cordon on Parliament Street at around 3:20pm while officers investigated what they called a “suspicious vehicle in the vicinity of Downing Street” – sparking fears of a major security threat at the heart of government.
In scenes reminiscent of previous terror scares, Whitehall was completely shut down with police cordons placed at both ends of the road between Parliament Square and Trafalgar Square, encompassing crucial government buildings including 10 Downing Street.
Staff evacuated to ‘secure rooms’
Sources inside No10 revealed that Downing Street staff – who had been working on Chancellor Rachel Reeves‘ crucial Spending Review – were swiftly moved into secure areas as the lockdown was implemented.
“Everyone was told to move immediately,” one insider said. “There was no messing about – staff were taken straight to the secure rooms.”
The dramatic security response saw the entire southern end of Whitehall sealed off as a “precautionary measure,” with civil servants working in government buildings along the road unable to leave and no one allowed to enter.
Westminster police confirmed: “A cordon is in place at the southern end of Whitehall as a precautionary measure while officers investigate an abandoned vehicle in the vicinity of Downing Street.
Buses diverted as Westminster grinds to halt
The security alert brought chaos to central London, with Transport for London forced to divert several bus routes as police continued their investigation into the abandoned vehicle.
Tourists and commuters found themselves caught up in the drama, with many turned away from the main thoroughfare around Downing Street as officers maintained a significant police presence in the area.
Photographs from the scene showed multiple police vehicles positioned strategically around Westminster, with officers maintaining strict cordons at key access points.
Not linked to earlier collision
The lockdown followed a serious road traffic collision on nearby Abingdon Street earlier in the day, though police insisted the two incidents were not connected.
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson confirmed they had been called at 1:29pm to reports of a collision on Dean’s Yard, Westminster, involving a pedestrian and a bus.
“We sent resources to the scene, including an ambulance crew, paramedics in fast response cars, an incident response officer and a clinical team manager. We also dispatched London’s Air Ambulance,” they said.
We treated a man for a head injury and took him to a major trauma centre by road.
All clear given after two hours
After approximately two hours of tense waiting, police finally gave the all-clear, confirming the incident had been resolved and cordons would be lifted.
Downing Street staff were released from their secure holding areas as the security alert was stood down, though officials remained tight-lipped about the exact nature of the threat.
The Metropolitan Police later confirmed: “This incident has now been resolved and cordons will be lifted shortly.
Echoes of previous security scares
The dramatic lockdown brought back memories of previous security incidents at Downing Street, including the shocking moment in May 2023 when a silver Kia was deliberately driven into the gates of No10.
In that incident, a man was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving after crashing into the iconic black gates at around 4:20pm, with then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak slightly delayed in leaving due to the security scare.
Starmer’s security under scrutiny
Today’s incident comes as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer faces mounting security challenges, having recently unveiled plans to boost Britain’s military to “war-fighting readiness” amid growing threats from Russia.
Just last week, Starmer warned that “the threat we now face is more serious, more immediate and more unpredictable than at any time since the Cold War,” citing daily cyber attacks and Russian aggression.
The Prime Minister has committed to making Britain “a battle-ready, armor-clad nation” with increased defense spending and new nuclear-powered submarines, as he responds to what he calls an “existential” threat to European security.
‘Once in a generation’ threat level
Security sources suggest today’s incident, while resolved peacefully, highlights the heightened state of alert around government buildings as Britain faces what Starmer has called a “once in a generation moment for our national security.
The Prime Minister has been walking a diplomatic tightrope, seeking to maintain strong relations with both Europe and the United States while confronting growing threats from hostile nations.
With memories of the Westminster Bridge attack and other terror incidents still fresh, any security alert near the seat of government is taken with the utmost seriousness by authorities.
Questions remain
While police have given the all-clear, questions remain about the nature of the abandoned vehicle and why it triggered such a significant security response.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the constant vigilance required to protect Britain’s political leadership in an era of heightened global tensions and evolving security threats.
As one Westminster insider put it: “These days, you can’t be too careful. Better safe than sorry when it comes to protecting the PM and the heart of government.
